We began the festivities with some Charles Heidsieck Champagnes and various
'nibbles.'

Birthday Boy Bob Gorman.
"Oh my gawd...It's MY Birthday!?!?!"

Alexia prepared a lovely caponata...

Meanwhile, Henry was grilling some large prawns for the first course...

Alexia had set a lovely table and we soon sat down for this little feast...

The shrimps were paired with a magnum of Marimar Torres' 1995 Chardonnay.

Meanwhile, Alexia had a taste...

The main course was a pork roast paired with two vintages of Dehlinger Syrah.
The 1992 Syrah displayed some berry and spice tones to start and then veered off
into a stage of senility. The 1995 was meaty and a bit leathery, having a
bit more body and richness.

We then decanted a couple of oldsters...a 1955 Antinori
Chianti being the first.
This was a bit funky and rustic, though still alive. The other bottle was
a 1976 Sassicaia, a remarkably fine, youthful, deep red.
Jonathan brought some home-baked bread to pair with the cheeses.

Birthday Cake!

Henry! decanted the 1964 Graham's Port...
And Paul poured...

Then it was time for some birthday gifts...

Bob also got a Lottery "Scratcher" Ticket for a
$10,000 prize.
Match three and you win!
And, naturally, he did.

Bob also received a nice little "wine tasting bib."

And so we had a wonderful meal...

Thanks Henry! and Alexia!!

A BIRTHDAY FOR ELLEN & BARBARA

I prepared a nice little Sunday "lunch" for
my sisters to celebrate our birthdays...after a bottle of bubbly, a fine German
sekt to pair with the sushi, we sat down to some 'serious' vittles...

Ellen and her son Brian.

Barbara and her husband Paul.

Roasted game hens with toasted couscous & mushrooms.

We opened some bottles of Loire Valley reds to pair with the game hens.